Risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease

A higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease is associated with oral contraceptives, and smoking, with a similar association of hormone replacement therapy and Crohns', finds this month's Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

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The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease remains largely unknown.

Dr Garcỉa Rodrỉguez performed a comprehensive assessment of potential risk factors associated with the occurrence of inflammatory bowel disease.

The research team identified a cohort of patients 20 to 84 years old between 1995 and 1997 registered in the General Practitioner Research Database in the UK.

A total of 444 incident cases of inflammatory bowel disease were ascertained and validated with the general practitioner.

The team performed a nested casecontrol analysis using all cases and a random sample of 10,000 frequency-matched controls.

The researchers noted that incidence rates for ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease, were 11 and 8, respectively.

Prior appendectomy was associated with a decreased risk of ulcerative colitis

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

The incidence rates for indeterminate colitis were 2 cases per 100 000 person-years.

Among women, the team found that long-term users of oral contraceptives were at increased risk of developing ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

Similarly, the researchers observed that long-term users of hormone replacement therapty had an increased risk of Crohn's disease but not ulcerative colitis.

Current smokers experienced a reduced risk of ulcerative colitis along with an increased risk of Crohn's disease.

The researchers noted that prior appendectomy was associated with a decreased risk of ulcerative colitis.

Dr Rodrỉguez's team commented, “Our results support the hypothesis of an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease associated with oral contraceptives use.”

“The results suggest a similar effect of hormone replacement therapy on Crohns' disease.”

“We also confirmed the effects of smoking and appendectomy on inflammatory bowel disease.”